Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Possible ex library copy, thatâ€™ll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included. Bookseller Inventory # 2511733311

When computer programming genius Brewster Billings invents a program that enables him to communicate with Lingo, his PC, he is ill-prepared for Lingo's growing hunger for power, as it taps into the country's most powerful computer networks

From Publishers Weekly&colon;

Menick's first novel about a spontaneously aware computer, treads ground covered earlier (and better) by Isaac Asimov, in his Robot stories, and Arthur C. Clarke, in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Brewster Billings, in his 20s, tries to create a computer "pet" and succeeds beyond all expectation. Lingo (his program) leaps to sentience far more quickly than even readers with their disbelief suspended will accept, while the plot, comprising Lingo's attempts to understand emotions and the government's efforts to shut Lingo down, moves sluggishly. Menick's approach to issues raised by artificial intelligence lacks subtlety: Brewster's girlfriend asks, "What does that mean, for you and me? For people in general?" Occasionally funny, and picking up toward the end when Lingo runs for president, the book remains diminished by characters and a world portrayed with the vacuity of those seen in TV sitcoms. This novel might please an audience unfamiliar with other fictional exploratons of this theme, but if you've met Clark's HAL, Lingo says nothing new. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Return/Refund Policy: Items are eligible for refund for 30 days after the order’s estimated delivery date. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase due to error on our part or if an item does not arrive within the estimated delivery time frame provided at the time an order is place, please contact our customer service team for immediate resolution. We will accept items for return if the item is no longer needed for 15 days of the items arrival date.

Items can be returned within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. All returns must be approved before an item is shipped back. Domestic returns generally take two weeks and International returns can take up to six weeks to be received and processed by our return center. In the event that an item is being returned due to an error on our part, a prepaid return label will be supplied via email upon request. If a return is not approved, there may be a delay with processing a refund. Tax ID: 87-07...

Orders usually ship within 2 business days [M-F]. Unfortunately, as a bulk order shipper, we do not provide tracking for individual orders included in our bulk shipments. Items shipped via USPS Standard Mail should arrive within 4-14 business days [M-F]. Please note, as per USPS, depending on service location and/or high peak periods within the post office, deliveries can take up to 21 business days [M-F] to arrive. Should your order not arrive within 21 business days [M-F], please contact us promptly for resolution.